Chapter 27 - Chapter 25: The Magic Otaku Screams Silently at the Entrance Ceremony
The dormitories at the Talgum Magic Academy were simply divided into two: one for boys and one for girls. A shame. Not for any particular reason, but a shame nonetheless. Then again, with only about a hundred students in total from the first to third years, there was no point in having more dorms.
The boys' and girls' dorms stood side by side, massive three-story mansions that looked like identical twins. The third years were assigned rooms on the first floor, the second years on the second, and the first years on the third. The numbering was inverted, apparently to give preference to the third years. I suppose having to climb the stairs to the third floor every time would be a hassle.
We could have actually moved in right after the exam results were announced, but Nathan-san had told us that announcement day was always chaotic with the rush of new students. So, we decided to wait a day. The four of us children arrived at the dorms with Hanna and our escorts carrying our luggage. It seemed no other new students were moving in today. We were about to part ways at the entrance, boys and girls, but Ruria wouldn't let go of me.
"Ruria, we're at the dorm. You need to go to the girls' side."
"..."
She remained silent, holding my arm and resting her head on my shoulder in a clear posture of refusal. Come to think of it, she had been extra clingy since this morning. During breakfast, she'd clung to me with both arms and wouldn't let go, so I had to feed her myself. Hanna's teasing—"Saki-sama, it's time for 'say ahhh'!"—was irritating, but Ruria looked up at me with such expectant eyes that I had no choice but to feed her with a "say ahhh." Damn it.
And now, this. Ruria was clearly not herself; it was like she'd regressed to a younger age. I knew this would happen, but was she really this opposed to being in a separate room? Roche-kun, Isak-senpai, and the adults were all watching us with warm, knowing gazes, but we couldn't just stand around in front of the dorm gate forever. I knew I had to do something, but I'd never gained any experience in handling girls in my past life, so I had no idea what to do.
My mind spun with worry until I was completely flustered and resorted to a desperate measure. I gently but firmly pulled my hand from Ruria's grasp, turned to face her, and placed my hands on her shoulders. Then I stood on my tiptoes—Ruria is actually a little taller than me—and gave her a light kiss on the forehead. With the biggest smile I could manage, I said, "There, you can go now." Damn it, there's no way I pulled that off. Isn't my face bright red right now?
A collective "Ooooh" rose from the onlookers. Ruria, her usual expressionless face replaced with teary eyes, stared at me for a moment before slowly nodding. Then, led by the hand by Hanna, she started walking toward the girls' dorm. She kept looking back over the short distance, so I waved with a smile while muttering under my breath, "Everyone, wave." They all scrambled to wave her off as her figure finally disappeared inside the girls' dorm.
I let my shoulders slump and heaved a huge sigh. When I turned around, everyone was looking at me with smirks on their faces. I shot them a glare filled with killing intent to make them stop. "Let's head into our dorm, too," I said dismissively, taking the lead and walking toward the entrance. To any onlookers, it was painfully obvious I was just trying to hide my embarrassment.
Ah, damn it all. Why do I have to be so exhausted just from entering a dorm?
The entrance to the boys' dorm was appropriately grand, with heavy, imposing double doors. Above the doors was a large ornament of a four-legged monster with wings spread, breathing fire—probably a dragon. I've never seen a dragon in this world, so I can't be certain, but from what I've heard, they're not much different from the ones in the legends and fiction of my previous life. The metal dragon, likely made of brass or something similar, glinted proudly even in the weak winter sun. It was clearly well-cleaned and maintained.
Opening the doors and stepping inside, we found ourselves in a large hall with an open ceiling that reached all the way to the third floor. It was about the size of a basketball court, and the magic lights placed on the walls of each floor made the space feel bright and expansive. There were staircases at the far left and right, leading up to the second floor and then turning back to continue to the third.
The wooden floor was polished to a mirror shine, and a large, unlit fireplace was set into the far wall. On the wall above the fireplace, another large dragon ornament shone in gold.
As we stood there, amazed by the unexpected luxury, a door on the left opened and someone entered the hall. He looked to be in his mid-teens, though in this country, fifteen is the age of adulthood, so he might already be considered a grown man. He had long, dark blonde hair styled in a so-called hime cut, which, combined with his slender frame, gave him a slightly androgynous air. His gentle features reinforced that impression. He was wearing a robe, so he was probably an upperclassman. He walked straight toward us and spoke with a friendly smile.
"Hey, I don't recognize you. Are you new students?"
Oh, despite his appearance, his voice is quite boyish. The three of us stepped forward together, and I spoke first.
"A pleasure to meet you, senpai. I am Saki Adoni Arcalai, a new student. I look forward to my time here."
"Likewise, I'm Roche Lamed. It's a pleasure."
"I-I'm Isak Begin. It's nice to meet you."
"Welcome to the Gold Dragon Hall, all three of you. I'm the dorm head, Lug Sholom, a third year."
Ooh, the dorm head. The shadow ruler of the boarding school, the one who holds tea parties with his favorite boys, schemes, and does all sorts of improper things. This particular bit of knowledge came from my only female colleague in my past life, so I admit it might be biased. Still, being entrusted with the role of dorm head meant this Lug-senpai must be an excellent student. The magical glow he emitted was nearly as strong as my parents'.
That aside, something had caught my interest, so I decided to ask.
"Excuse me, what is the Gold Dragon Hall? Is that the name of this building?"
"Ah, the Gold Dragon Hall is the nickname for the boys' dorm at this academy. You must have seen it when you came through the doors, right? And above the fireplace over there. Because of these dragon decorations, it's been called the Gold Dragon Hall for generations. By the way, the girls' dorm is decorated with a red dragon, so it's called the Red Dragon Hall."
As he explained, Dorm Head Lug studied me intently.
"Still... we were all disappointed that the top student this year went to the girls' dorm, but we were looking forward to welcoming the second-ranked student. To think such a small child would place second. Oh, no, I don't mean to belittle you. You're a fine academy student now. I suppose it's just what one would expect from the Arcalai bloodline."
"Thank you, Dorm Head Lug. And for the record, the top student, Ruria, is also seven, same as me."
"Is that so?! The Arcalai family really is something else..."
Dorm Head Lug said it with admiration, but from his tone, he had probably already known about Ruria and me. He continued to observe us for a moment before remembering himself and continuing the conversation.
"Ah, my apologies for keeping you talking here. I'll show you to your rooms. They're on the third floor, so please follow me. Your attendants are welcome to come along."
With that, he turned on his heel and walked toward one of the staircases at the back. We followed him up to the second floor, which opened onto a long landing, or rather, a corridor with a railing that encircled the hall. The numbered doors lining the corridor were presumably the students' private rooms. Just then, we ran into a student coming out of a door. He must have been a second year, given he came from a room on the second floor. He noticed Dorm Head Lug and greeted him.
"Good morning, Dorm Head. Are those new students with you?"
"Ah, good morning. Yes, as you can see. They're the last of this year's new students. Be nice to them."
"A pleasure to meet you, senpai."
"Yeah, you too."
The second-year senpai gave us a small wave as we bowed, then walked past, giving us a rather unabashed stare as he went. I wondered what he found so strange, but Dorm Head Lug had already started up the stairs to the third floor, so we hurried to follow. Once on the third floor, he led us down a corridor lined with doors until we reached the end.
"These three rooms here are yours. You can choose whichever you like. Well, they're all identical inside."
The dorm head pointed to rooms fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen. He was right, it probably didn't matter which room we chose, but I felt a little bad giving either of the others number fourteen, so I decided to take it. Roche-kun took fifteen, and Isak-senpai took sixteen.
"Rooms decided? Well then, you are all officially residents of the Gold Dragon Hall. First, you should check your rooms and bring in your luggage. Oh, and will any of you be living with an attendant?"
"No. All of us are capable of taking care of ourselves."
"I-I see. So there's only one new student with an attendant this year. Well, once you're settled, please come find me in the dorm head's office on the first floor. I'll give you a tour of the dorm. Don't take too long, or you'll be late for the entrance ceremony this afternoon."
"We apologize for the trouble, Dorm Head Lug. We'll see you shortly."
The dorm head gave a small wave to our bowing figures and turned to leave. After watching his back disappear, we immediately went to check out our respective rooms. They were more spacious than I'd expected, each with a living and study area furnished with a desk, chair, and table, a bedroom, a smaller bedroom likely meant for an attendant, and even a toilet.
Being a dorm room, the walls were plain and unadorned, giving it a spartan look, but it was more than enough space for a student living alone. And to think there was no rent—the academy's generosity was truly impressive.
After inspecting the rooms, we brought in the luggage Nathan-san and Laz-san's group had carried for us. With their help, we unpacked and arranged our things, finishing our move-in in less than half an hour. Then, we all went down to the first-floor hall, where I, as our representative, offered a few words of gratitude to the adults.
"Thank you so much, Nathan-san, for not only escorting us on our journey but also helping us move into the dorm. Once we're settled, I'll be sure to write you a formal letter of thanks."
"Your kindness is more than I deserve. It was an unexpected pleasure to accompany you, Saki-sama, and everyone else. Should you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to call upon me."
"Thank you to Laz-san and everyone else as well. We won't see each other for a while, but please have a safe trip back to the capital."
"Not at all. The honor of assisting the three of you with your enrollment is all ours. Saki-sama, Roche-sama, Isak-sama, we are certain you will become fine magicians. All of us in the Arcalai household will be praying for your success at the academy from the capital."
The three of us saw them off at the entrance of the Gold Dragon Hall, and they departed from the academy. Laz-san and his men would immediately return to the Goddess's Guidance inn to retrieve the carriage and begin their journey back to the capital. While they couldn't leave the manor understaffed for long, I felt bad that they couldn't even do a little sightseeing. I tried to convince at least Nathan-san to stay, but he declined, citing his military duties. I wasn't sure if I was being too lax with my past life's sensibilities, or if they were just overly diligent.
After that, as promised, we visited Dorm Head Lug in his office and received a proper tour of the Gold Dragon Hall. The first floor housed the third-year rooms, as well as a dining hall, kitchen, and bathhouse. The dining hall wasn't quite large enough for all fifty or so residents to eat at once, but students were allowed to take their food back to their rooms, so it apparently never got completely full. The bathhouse operated on a rotation by year, with third years going first and first years last.
The second floor had a library and a study room, and the third floor was equipped with a recreation room and a lounge. The recreation room only had simple card games (played with wooden tiles) and board games, so it seemed to be used mainly for casual conversations among small groups. For more private talks, it was common to gather in someone's room. On the rare occasion that all residents needed to assemble, they used the first-floor hall.
The tour was an endless series of surprises at the luxuriousness of the facilities. It was hardly inferior to the Goddess's Guidance inn where we had stayed until yesterday. A student dormitory on par with a high-end inn for nobles—it was almost unbelievable. And the fact that residents didn't have to pay a single coin for it... the academy was seriously on another level. I guess that's what you get when you own an entire city.
As we were being shown around, we passed several upperclassmen and fellow first years, and without fail, I ended up being stared at. At first, I wondered if one of us was dressed strangely, but I soon realized they weren't staring at "us," but at "me."
That's right. I don't really think about it, but I'm a seven-year-old child. In this academy, where even Roche-kun and Isak-senpai were on the younger side, I wasn't just a little young—I was a baby. It was only natural that I'd be subjected to curious gazes.
We'll all be living under the same roof. They'll get used to seeing me eventually, and I'll stop drawing attention. Having reached that conclusion, I accepted Dorm Head Lug's invitation to have lunch with him in the dining hall. The dorm's dining hall had the exact atmosphere of a company cafeteria from my past life, with tables and chairs arranged in a large room and a kitchen at the far end.
A large opening in the wall between the dining hall and kitchen served as a counter, where students would pick up trays of food and take them to a table. The students who left the dining hall with their trays were presumably the ones who preferred to eat in their rooms.
But wow, just as I thought during the tour, with dozens of aspiring magicians gathered in one place, my vision was bright with magical light everywhere. Entering the dining hall, where the density of people was even higher, was truly something else. Still, looking at them one by one, there weren't many residents who emitted a light as strong as my parents'. Dorm Head Lug really did seem to stand out, even in terms of his mana levels.
As I sized up the other residents, we joined the line to get our trays, which is when a problem arose. I was too short, my face barely peeking over the service counter. I could probably get a tray if I stood on my tiptoes and stretched out my arms... but while I was struggling on my toes with my hands on the counter, Isak-senpai grabbed a tray and handed it to me. My apologies... my apologies...
Shaking it off, we joined Dorm Head Lug, who had saved us a table. The lunch menu consisted of white bread, a stew of salted meat and beans, and a soup with bacon and vegetables. It seemed you could ask for more bread, as some upperclassmen had two or three pieces on their trays. It was a simple but delicious-looking meal. Was everything designed to be eaten with just a spoon to reduce the amount of washing up?
As I picked up a freshly baked piece of white bread, I started asking Dorm Head Lug various questions. In high society, conversation during meals is often considered bad manners, but that didn't seem to be the case in this dining hall. While there were no boors laughing uproariously, casual conversations were taking place at every table. The idea that noble and commoner are equal once inside the academy seemed to be true to some extent.
"Dorm Head Lug, where are you from?"
"I grew up in the lower districts of the capital. My father is an armorer, but someone happened to recommend me for the preparatory school. I was lucky enough to get a scholarship, so I came to the academy."
The preparatory school was an institution established by the state in the capital, essentially the royal family's version of a private academy. Its purpose was to cultivate useful talent regardless of origin, so high-achieving students were given preferential treatment, such as tuition waivers. It attracted gifted students from all over the kingdom, burning with ambition to climb the social ladder, so its level was undoubtedly the highest in the kingdom. To win a scholarship amidst such competition, where children who were called "child prodigies" back home gathered, was no small feat. Dorm Head Lug was being modest, but he was, without a doubt, one of the top geniuses in the kingdom.
"That's amazing! You could have easily become a high-ranking official if you'd continued on that path. Why did you choose the academy?"
"I suppose it was something I always dreamed of. Ever since I was little, I thought magicians' robes looked cool. Besides, at the academy, you get to live in the dorm for free, right? I got the scholarship, but studying costs money. My father is a skilled craftsman, but he doesn't earn enough to send a child to a private academy. To be honest, I was shocked when I first came here and saw they served white bread at every meal. I thought that alone made coming to the academy worth it."
"I understand. Dipping black bread or hardtack into soup is nice, but there's just something special about the softness of white bread that makes you happy."
"...You've had black bread before? I thought all nobles only ever ate white bread."
"I had the chance to try it while traveling."
"Don't get mad, but Saki-kun, you don't really act like a noble, do you? I've seen plenty of noble children at the preparatory school and here at the academy, but they all draw a line with commoners, or put up a barrier. You, on the other hand, don't act superior, and you seem to speak your mind without hiding your true feelings."
"Don't be fooled, Dorm Head Lug. It's true that Saki enjoys it when we speak to him casually, and he can act like a child from the city, but that's just his ploy. Before you know it, he'll have closed the distance between you and be demanding your friendship."
"I-Is that so? How frightening."
"That's mean, Roche-kun. Is that how you see me?"
"Then why, pray tell, do you call Isak-san 'senpai,' but you call me 'kun'?"
"Well, that's because... you're cute?"
"I'd appreciate it if you'd stop calling a boy three years your senior 'cute'!"
"W-Well, Roche is cute, isn't he? When he stands next to Saki-sama, they look like brothers close in age."
"Isak-san, you too?!"
Though Roche-kun and Isak-senpai, myself included, hold a certain station in life, our trivial banter was no different from the playful teasing of ordinary boys. This, this is what I want. Why on earth should I have to use roundabout phrasing to avoid being held to my word when talking to my schoolmates? Then again, there's a high chance that'll become necessary in the future.
Dorm Head Lug watched our exchange with a slightly dumbfounded expression, but he soon laughed cheerfully and said to us:
"You three are really close. I'm envious. I had a hard time making friends at first, both at the preparatory school and here at the academy. Friends you can talk to about anything are a treasure, so you should cherish them."
"Thank you, Dorm Head Lug."
"Well, this has been a very enjoyable lunch, but you should probably leave the dorm soon. The new students are gathering for an explanation of the entrance ceremony. It takes quite a bit of time, so be prepared."
Just as Dorm Head Lug said, I noticed that most of the students in the dining hall had finished their meals, and the place had become quite empty. The few who remained seemed to be upperclassmen who weren't involved in the entrance ceremony.
"Thank you for the advice. Still, it's unusual for an entrance ceremony to be held in the afternoon, isn't it?"
"...? I don't know if other places have entrance ceremonies, but it's always been like this at the academy. I heard it's because it has to be held after the sun goes down."
Ah, I see. I had been talking about the entrance ceremony with my past life's sensibilities, but in this country, where schools and similar institutions are rare, the ceremony itself might be a novelty. We certainly didn't have one at the private academy. It was a world where a standard for entrance ceremonies simply didn't exist. My mistake.
Still, what kind of entrance ceremony starts after sunset? Is it one of those things that has to be done when the moon is out? It has a certain fantasy flavor to it, I suppose.
In any case, it seemed we couldn't dawdle. We thanked Dorm Head Lug once more and left the Gold Dragon Hall. The moment we stepped outside, I wondered what to do about Ruria, but then I looked over at the neighboring Red Dragon Hall and saw Ruria and Hanna standing in front of the entrance. It seemed they had been waiting outside for us. After meeting up with Ruria, we were seen off by Hanna and hurried toward the towering academy building before us.
All of this year's new students at the Talgum Magic Academy had been gathered in the auditorium. Magicians who were part of the faculty stood guard in front of the doors on either side of the stage, creating a somewhat solemn atmosphere. The auditorium had windows, but the shutters were currently closed, and even with the magic lights, the sense of confinement was palpable. I had heard this was an explanation for the entrance ceremony, but the mood felt a little different.
The other new students seemed to have sensed the strange atmosphere as well, as whispers were exchanged here and there. Among them, I spotted the young master in the flashy blue robe from the entrance exam. He sat with his arms crossed and eyes closed, while two boys who looked like his lackeys whispered to him. So they passed, too.
With that, I scanned the auditorium further and, sure enough, found the young lady with the vertical hair rolls. There were no classmates around her; she sat alone, staring straight ahead. She looks like a lo—... no, the word 'solitary' comes to mind. But if I stared too long, Ruria, sitting next to me, would get scary, so I quickly averted my gaze.
Just then, the auditorium doors opened and Professor Azadh entered. He walked onto the stage, looked out over the new students, and began to speak in his usual clear, resonant voice.
"New students, congratulations on passing. I am Ahab Adoni Azadh, the chief professor of the Talgum Magic Academy. As you may have already heard, I will now explain the entrance ceremony. This is an extremely important ceremony, so I ask that you all listen carefully and avoid making any mistakes during the actual event."
Whoa, Professor Azadh used his noble title. I think he was granted the title of honorary baron when he retired from his position as commander of the Royal Magic Corps. And the fact that he was immediately appointed chief professor upon changing careers speaks volumes about his reputation as one of the kingdom's foremost magic users.
But still. Even for early in the year when the sun sets early, there was still plenty of time until dusk. Did the explanation for the entrance ceremony really require that much time? I mean, it's just, your name gets called, you stand up, you listen to the academy head's long, sleep-inducing speech, right? Honestly, I thought the whole thing could be explained in a few minutes. If we weren't in front of everyone, I'd have liked to ask the professor, "What's the deal with that?"
But the proceedings of the Talgum Magic Academy's entrance ceremony, as described by Professor Azadh, betrayed my expectations in more ways than one.
A few hours later, I was walking alone down a corridor deep within the academy. The sun had already sunk below the horizon, and the surroundings were shrouded in night. But this corridor lacked the magical lights found elsewhere in the academy; it was filled with a darkness so thick you could almost touch it. A novelist would probably describe it that way, but unfortunately for the drama of it, I could see perfectly. The dense particles of magic drifting in the air filled the dark corridor with a soft light.
Eventually, the corridor ended at a pair of double doors. Standing before them was a figure holding a drawn longsword. Clad in a dark brown robe with the hood pulled low, he was one of the academy's professors. I could tell from the magical light emanating from him. I could also tell that several other powerful lights existed beyond the doors.
He glanced at me and gave a slight nod, then reached around me to check that the ropes were tied securely. That's right. I was currently bound with ropes at my chest, stomach, and waist. After finishing his inspection, he turned and knocked once on the doors. A single knock sounded from within, followed by a low male voice.
"The aspirant seeks entrance."
"It shall not be permitted. I shall not permit the entrance of a soul, now nameless, that wanders in darkness."
In response to the man's voice, a deep, calm old man's voice replied. Though it came from the other side of the doors, it was strangely clear. Soon, the double doors swung inward, revealing the scene inside.
It was a large hall. Unlike the corridor I had just walked through, the hall was filled with light. But it wasn't the common magical lighting of the academy. Torches were mounted on the walls, and here and there, candelabras illuminated the surroundings with the flickering flames of candles. At the far end of the hall was a raised dais, upon which were five throne-like chairs occupied by five figures. Four of them wore dark brown robes, but the one seated in the center was dressed in crimson. All had their hoods down, their faces obscured, but the central figure was clearly an old man, identifiable by the magnificent white beard that spilled from his hood and reached his chest. The voice that had granted permission to enter was probably his.
In front of the five thrones stood two pillars adorned with decorations commonly seen in Greek architecture—were they Ionian, or Corinthian? The pillar on the right was white, the one on the left black. Between them stood a figure in a white robe, holding a rod like one a high-ranking cleric might carry in a church.
Between the white-robed figure and the entrance was an altar. It was not a simple affair like the wooden box covered with cloth that I had made, but a proper one with a stone base. Upon it were roses, bread on a plate, a lamp, a chalice, and other items. Two figures in dark brown robes flanked the altar, with another standing before it. And in front of me stood a figure in a black robe, his drawn longsword glinting in the torchlight. He must have been the one who opened the doors.
I suddenly realized that the person who had been guarding the doors was now standing behind me, blocking my path, his sword held vertically before his chest. I tried to step into the hall, but was stopped by the sword held by the man in the white robe. The figure who had been in front of the altar approached, holding up a lamp and a wand as he declared:
"Thou, who art impure and unconsecrated, may not set foot in our holy hall."
The man who had been on the left of the altar approached, dipped his hand into the cup he held, and sprinkled water on me, saying:
"I cleanse thee with water."
Next, the man from the right of the altar approached, waving a censer in his hand toward me as he intoned:
"I consecrate thee with fire."
At that, the old man in the crimson robe stood up, raised the scepter in his hand, and asked:
"Let the aspirant be led to the foot of the altar. Heir to a mortal world. Why dost thou wish to enter our holy hall? And why dost thou seek permission to enroll in our school?"
In response to the old man's calm yet powerful question, I gave the answer I had been taught.
"My soul has wandered through darkness, seeking the light of hidden wisdom. And I believe that in this school, the knowledge of that light may be obtained."
"Dost thou swear to not reveal the secrets of our sacred school to others, and to bear the solemn duties of this sacred place?"
"I do."
"Then thou shalt kneel upon both knees."
The man in the white robe who had been standing between the pillars stepped forward and helped me, still bound, to kneel before the altar. The man in the black robe discreetly placed a cushion under my knees. The old man in red descended from his throne, came to the front of the altar, and reached out his hand toward me over it, speaking in a resonant voice.
"Place thy right hand upon this holy altar, and thy left hand upon my right. Bow thy head, and repeat thy name as it is known on earth. Thou shalt recite after me."
I stretched out my hand as far as I could and took the old man's, bowing my head. When I touched him, his hand was so cold that I almost cried out, but I managed to swallow the sound. The man in the black robe placed the flat of his longsword on the nape of my neck, and the feel of the steel sharpened my resolve. The left hand I held was gently squeezed, and at that signal, the old man and I began to weave the words of the oath in a chant-like cadence.
"I, Saki Adoni Arcalai, in the presence of the Lord of the World who is spoken of in silence, and with the permission of the secret chiefs who are truly to be praised, do swear in this hall of the Talgum Magic Academy to keep inviolate any and all secrets. I promise to maintain a relationship of friendship and love with the brothers and sisters of this school. I sincerely promise that should any power seek to make me fall into a weak position to break this oath, I will not endure it in silence."
The words of the oath concluded, their echo dissolving into the ceiling of the hall. The three men in red, white, and black robes, and the three in dark brown robes, arranged themselves in the shape of a hexagram around me and the altar, each raising the object they held. For a moment, it seemed as if the dimly lit hall, despite the torchlight, was illuminated by a light from the heavens. I was helped to my feet by the white-robed figure, and the old man in the red robe announced solemnly:
"Release the aspirant's bonds of darkness, and grant him a fitting badge."
The man in the black robe raised his sword and cut the three ropes on my back. As the restraints fell away, the man in white pinned a simple badge with a single star to my chest. The old man in red nodded at this and said in the same deep, calm voice:
"We welcome thee, Brother Saki."
At his words, the man in black gestured for me to withdraw. I bowed and was about to leave the hall when a voice echoed directly in my mind.
Welcome to the Holy Magicians' Order, Very Honored Brother Saki. I, too, welcome you.
...What do you mean, "entrance ceremony"?! This is obviously an initiation for a magical secret society!
Here is Chapter 25. I never thought the entrance ceremony would get this long. Even I was surprised while writing it. I look forward to seeing you next time.